WhatsApp Messenger is an app that allows users to send and receive messages, make voice and video calls, share photos, documents, location and other media, all over the internet. It is available for both iOS and Android devices. WhatsApp Messenger is primarily focused on security and privacy. It uses end-to-end encryption to ensure that all messages and calls are secure and private. It also includes a two-factor authentication system, which requires users to confirm their identity when logging in to ensure their accounts are secure. Additionally, users have the option to set up their accounts with a “last seen” feature, which allows them to control who can see when they were last active on the app. WhatsApp Messenger is also designed to be very user-friendly. It has a simple, intuitive interface and is easy to use. It also offers features such as group chats, which allows users to communicate with multiple people at once, and the ability to send messages to people who are not currently connected to the app.
You can have a user name that you can change at any time, so you don't have to share your phone number with strangers in groups.
Fast, stable and cross-platform messaging.
Because it is free, secure, community-contributed software rather than company-backed software.
Open source, true end-to-end encryption, no metadata collection.
It is open source, which makes the chance of someone being able to implement a backdoor very slim.
Focused on security messages are encrypted and is open source. Like Whatsapp, you can send files, group chats and video messages. Skype is more popular among regulations, but Tox has all the bells and whistles that WhatsApp did.
Secure, high-quality peer-to-peer communications, audio and video group calls, and unlimited file transfers. The only disadvantage compared to the alternatives is that you can only communicate successfully if both peers are online, but that is part of the nature of the protocol and therefore security is prioritized.
More a competition for skype than whatsapp. However, there is nothing you can do on WhatsApp that you can't do on Wire. It's reliable, has phone calls, can also be used on PC / Mac ... registration with phone number is optional, which is good.
You do not need to give your phone number for use. It is still a safe, good and nice chat application. On phone and PC, web as well.
Outlook cannot be checked for common contacts.
It is open source, encrypted (end-to-end), the server is also open source, which means that you or your university can run the server for you. This last point makes it very solid in the long run (as email survived because the protocol was federated).
in addition to what was already mentioned, it is a client for the matrix, which is a chat network that tries to connect people from different platforms (also via bridges) and is decentralized. easy to use, perfect for geeks!
Decentral (federation), of course. Open source - client, protocol and server
You can choose the client you like and use it.
It is open source, using the XMPP protocol, you can host your own server (XMPP), has a nice design and much more...
Franz is not a messaging app, it only allows you to group multiple messaging apps such as Messenger, WhatsApp, Slack, etc.
Messages separated by flows and topics
Threema is a great whatapp alternative. As easy to use as Whatsapp, but (hopefully) more secure and not based in the US. However, just like Whatsapp, it's just an app and doesn't have a PC client ... :(
Sure, it's not based in the U.S. And you are the Customer, not the product. They really care about your privacy!
Telegram
Signal
Skype
Tox
Wire
Hangouts
Riot.im
Mattermost
Matrix.org
Jami
Viber
Conversations
Facebook Messenger
Franz
Zulip
Keybase
Silence.im
Threema
ChatSecure
Imo
Telegram can be used on a desktop PC without the need for a mobile smartphone. Especially useful for older people, who do not use smartphones.